Do it Yourself Dog Grooming Tips
These days, everyone is looking for ways to trim the budget. One way you can help do this is to stop those dog grooming appointments and do it yourself. This, of course, depends on a cooperative pet, the proper equipment, the appropriate guidelines and patience.
Dogs with long or curly hair need to have their coats trimmed regularly or the hair can become matted and tangled. However, another important reason to keep your dogs fur trimmed and well groomed is to keep fleas, ticks, lice and other parasites from breeding on your dog and in your home.
How often your dog needs to be trimmed depends on the length of your dogs coat. Long haired breeds like golden retrievers and Irish setters need to be trimmed every month or two. Curly haired or wiry haired breeds may only need to be trimmed every three to four months.
In order to properly groom your dog, you will need certain supplies. A well-oiled set of pet hair clippers, hair brush and comb, a pair of scissors, a blow dryer, and towels will be needed to do the job. You will probably also want a broom and dust pan to clean up afterward.
Here are some general tips for trimming a long-haired dog:
Start trimming underneath with a clipper length of 9 or 10.
Move from the armpits back and up to the tail.
Use a 7 or 8 clipper length to trim the legs and paws.
Use a 9 or 10 clipper length and a comb to trim the face, ears and top of the back. Wash your dog to get rid of any excess loose hair.
Be careful to use shampoos approved for dogs and make sure the shampoo does not get in your dogs eyes.
Lastly, if it is cold outside, you can use the blow dryer to dry your dog. Completely dry one section before moving on to the next. This will keep your dog from getting anxious and unsettled.
That is all there is to it. You may not be great at grooming your dog at first, but practice and patience make perfect. After a few times, you will be grooming like a pro and saving lots of money at the same time!
Jershon Teigh enjoys articles on a variety of topics. Visit his latest website http://hairclippersprofessional.com for information on pet hair clippers and their benefits.

June 28, 2011 





